YOUTH WORSHIP TEAM
ROCKIN’ YOUR REHEARSAL SPACE | Vance & Michelle Shepherd
In the years that we’ve been teaching and
mentoring youth worship teams, we’ve noticed
that some students just aren't as motivated to
practice as others. Some don’t excel as fast
as they should, and really struggle with their
weekly exercises. And now we find ourselves
as music mentors right in the middle of a
pandemic, which has separated us physically
from our students, and more than ever we want
our students to be inspired to play. We’ve been
forced to move to an online learning platform
only, which means that the student’s home
learning environment is even more important.
A few years ago, I decided to start volunteering
to visit my student’s homes to see how their It also cancels the speaker out on the karaoke your form, posture, and stage presence as you
rehearsal spaces were set up, and it was very system, allowing you to practice in private, and practice. Find ways to display your instruments
eye-opening… to say the least! at any hour of the day or evening. Owning a in your practice room so you can see your
Many of them had a space that was so nice pair of cupped over-the-ear headphones instrument out of its case – if you see it as you
uninviting, it’s a wonder they did any practice also allows you to hear instruments, phrases walk by the room, you’ll want to go in and pick
at all! Most of them were just playing their audio and rhythms that you wouldn't usually be able it up and play it. And also, try to get a room that
files through their laptop computer speakers to hear from the standard inexpensive speaker you’re allowed to turn up the volume so you
or their phone. One of my students had her that comes with these karaoke systems, or can really get into your playing. It’s just not as
keyboard facing into a wall in a corner of her even regular ear buds. You can find karoake fun to play quiet!
room. Wow, I would never practice either! And systems used on Ebay, at thrift stores, garage considering you need about 10,000 hours of sales, etc, and for a fraction of the new prices.
practice time on an instrument to master it, you
better like the room you practice in.
I received an email from one of my students’
parents late one evening after I set up their
Another one of our students had a great little new rehearsal space for them. She let me
keyboard practice amp with an auxiliary input know that her children practiced for 2 ½ hours
Another one of our students had a karaoke and a headphone jack. All she needed was straight after getting their new space set up and
system just sitting around unused. Believe a 3.5mm male to male stereo audio auxiliary personalized for them. If you’re a music mentor
it or not, portable karaoke systems can be a cable for her to plug her computer, iPad or or teacher, I would encourage you to offer to
great tool for rehearsal spaces, especially if iPhone into it. She loves it, and can play her visit your student’s homes (get a virtual tour of
you’re on a budget. Most karaoke systems rehearsal audio files along with her keyboard their room online), and think creatively how to
have multiple inputs (including multiple mic and/or guitar with the other 2 inputs, and she help set them up with a better music room.
inputs), auxiliary inputs, and also a headphone has much better sound quality now, which jack. With the purchase of just a few adaptor makes for a more inspirational practice session.
cables, you can use these karaoke systems
A rockin’ rehearsal space is crucial to a
musician’s success!
as a mini home sound system. You can use The perfect rehearsal space means creating the mic inputs for keyboards, guitars, bass, a private, inviting space somewhere in your May you be blessed as you continue to pour
etc. You can hook the computer, mp3 player, bedroom or another room in the home that is into the next generation of worship leaders and
or smart phone to the auxiliary in to play the inspiring and motivating. Personalize it to you, musicians!
rehearsal audio files. Another great feature is have a few of your favorite things in it. A bright, that you can plug in a nice pair of professional, cheery, well-lit room with windows is great. We inexpensive headphones and hear everything suggest that this room should also include a coming from one sound source, crystal clear. large wall or door mirror, so that you can watch
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May 2020
Vance & Michelle Shepherd
Founders of The Shepherd School of Music in Las
Vegas, NV, where they work with youth to raise up the
next generation of worship leaders and musicians.
facebook.com/shepherdschoolofmusiclasvegas
www.ShepherdStudiosLV.com
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